RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt an ordinance approving and authorizing a construction contract with Icon GC, LLC, for the Kenswick Drive Extension at George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston (IAH) (Project No. 935) and appropriating $4,359,259.00 from the Airports Improvement Fund (8011).
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
In the recently update economic impact statement for the Houston Airport System, the air cargo industry at IAH was highlighted as providing more than $13.8 billion in annual economic impact. To expand air cargo facilities at IAH, changes to the local roadways are needed.
Kenswick Drive is a four-lane major collector roadway east of George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston (IAH). with two northbound lanes, two southbound lanes, and multiple median openings. The traffic mixture is composed of personal vehicular and commercial truck traffic.
Will Clayton Parkway is a six-lane urban roadway that runs between Interstate 69 and IAH and intersects with Kenswick Drive. The thoroughfare is composed of three eastbound lanes and three westbound lanes with a densely wooded median separating the lanes. The crossover lanes connecting the eastbound lanes with the westbound lanes have tight, difficult-to-navigate turning radii requiring truck traffic to deviate from the opposite direction. Additionally, the crossover connector roads require all traffic to stop before departing onto Will Clayton Parkway eastbound or westbound, respectively. This results in traffic queuing up on the crossover connector roads due to the slow-turning movements.
The objective of the Kenswick Drive Extension project is to construct a Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) designed intersection at Kenwick Drive and Will Clayton Parkway to improve traffic flow and allow direct access through Will Clayton Parkway to Lee Road to the immediate south. Once complete, , Lee Road between Will Clayton Parkway and FM 1960 will be closed to public traffic to allow for future cargo expansion. The Kenswick Drive Extension project will allow Kenswick to more easily facilitate increased traffic and become the main public north-south connector between Will Clayton and FM 1960.
Two traffic signals will be installed on Will Clayton Parkway as part of this project, one westbound and one eastbound. The project scope also includes the construction of an infield detention pond east of the proposed intersection. Proposed detention will provide approximately 4.53-acre feet of storage for both detention and floodplain fill mitigation. The project will be will be executed using a phased progression approach, coordinating with all stakeholders to reduce impact to the traveling public.
Bids:
An Invitation to Bid (ITB) for Kenswick Drive Extension for the Houston Airport System (HAS) was advertised in the Houston Chronicle on August 30 and September 6, 2024. HAS also advertised the solicitation on the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) website and through the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Aviation News Today email distribution. The following bids were received and tabulated as follows:
|
Company
|
Bid Total
|
|
1. Icon GC, LLC
|
$3,866,900.00
|
|
2. Posillico Civil, LNC
|
$4,119,872.00
|
|
3. Granite Construction Company
4. Jerdon Enterprise, L.P.
|
$4,210,439.33
$4,258,815.50
|
|
|
|
It is recommended that Icon GC, LLC be awarded this Contract based on its low responsive, responsible bid meeting specifications.
Professional Engineering Design Services are provided by AtkinsRealis North America.
The contract time for this project is 211 calendar days.
Project Costs:
$ 3,866,900.00 Construction Services
$ 425,359.00 Contingency
$ 67,000.00 Construction Materials Engineering & Testing Services
$4,359,259.00 TOTAL
Construction Materials Engineering & Testing Services:
Construction materials engineering and testing services will be performed by DAE & Associates, LTD dba Geotech Engineering and Testing under Contract Number 4600016495.
Hire Houston First (HHF):
The proposed contract requires compliance with the City’s “Hire Houston First” (HHF) ordinance that promotes economic opportunity for Houston businesses and supports job creation. In this case, Icon GC, LLC is a designated HHF Company, but it was the successful awardee without application of the HHF preference.
Pay or Play:
The proposed contract requires compliance with the City’s “Pay or Play” ordinance regarding health benefits for employees of City contractors. In compliance with the policy, Icon GC, LLC will exercise the “pay” option.
MWBE Participation:
The advertised MWBE goal for this project is 36% (28% MBE; 8%WBE). Icon GC, LLC has committed to 36.54% (24.06% MBE; 8.48% WBE; and 4.0% SBE) participation utilizing the following certified firms:
|
Firm Name
|
Certification
|
Type of Work
|
%
|
|
Traffic Systems Construction, Inc.
|
SBE
|
Signals and Electrical
|
4.0%
|
|
Bella Paving, Inc.
|
MBE
|
Asphalt Paving
|
10.30%
|
|
Texas Concrete Ready Mix
|
MBE
|
Ready Mix
|
9.57%
|
|
Holes, Incorporated
|
WBE
|
Sawing & Drilling
|
2.69%
|
|
Blueprint Trucking & Contracting
|
MBE
|
Trucking
|
4.19%
|
|
Access Data Supply
|
WBE
|
Rebar, RCP, Structures
|
5.79%
|
|
|
|
Total
|
36.54%
|
Fiscal Note:
No significant Fiscal Operating impact is anticipated as a result of this project
Director’s Signature:
____________________
Jim Szczesniak
Houston Airport System